ACT Reading Practice Test 23

HUMANITIES: Artistic Styles Explored

Many of us have looked at a great work of art and wondered how a person is able to paint or draw something so lifelike and emotive. We see the masterpieces of painters such as Monet or Picasso and

Line 5 wonder what stirred these men to put brush to canvas so delicately. Most of an artist’s greatness lies in his or her natural ability and practice of technique, but other factors affect the work an artist produces. The trained eye knows that even the smallest of details can have a
10 powerful impact on the meaning of an artist’s work. A formal style is among the most apparent traits of a work of art. One of the first popular styles was known as Realism. Paintings from this school focused on depicting real life unembellished with fanciful notions

15 or feelings. Realism traces its roots to ancient Rome, where artists attempted to depict their leaders in ways that did not glamorize or gloss over unattractive physical attributes. This approach became unpopular after a while for many different reasons, but was revived

20 during the Renaissance. For the next several centuries, Western artists attempted to portray life as realistically as possible. In the late 19th century, a rebellion against Realism arose in response to the rigidity and staleness some

25 saw in the style. As a result, many artists began painting in the Impressionist style, which allowed for more creativity. Monet and Manet, two prominent painters, used this style of painting, characterized by its subtle use of light and color to create a dreamlike quality in
30 scenes of the natural world. Impressionist painters use small brush strokes with unmixed primary colors to simulate reflected light. The result is a picture that appears hazy, leaving a general “impression” upon the viewer. The large number

35 of young painters who took up Impressionism resulted in it being a very vigorous and contentious school of thought. Impressionistic style is still popular with both art collectors and museum-goers. Several new styles grew out of the Impressionist

40 movement that actually rejected all or some of the beliefs held by Impressionists. Some of these styles became schools of thought in their own right, while others simply existed as one artist’s trademark way of painting. Post-Impressionism is one example of a style

45 that grew out of the naturalistic form of Impressionism. Post-impressionism uses form and color to reflect art in a more personal and subjective way than did its predecessor. Another style that grew out of Impressionism was

50 Pointillism. Georges Seurat led this movement, which emphasized the application of paint in small dots and brush strokes to create the effect of blending and luminosity. Vincent Van Gogh, a well-known artist, adapted

55 Impressionism to his own unique method. Although a real school of thought never followed his style of painting, he is nonetheless regarded as a brilliant painter for his use of bold, bright colors and even larger and bolder brush strokes.

60 Many other styles of painting evolved from the first descendants of Impressionism. Cubism, Abstract Art, Expressionism, Abstract Expressionism, Modernism, and a host of other styles have all expanded the range of acceptable artistic expression and allowed

65 artists to explore new and creative ways in which to express themselves and their points of view. Each style has distinct ways of interpreting the world and depicting it in art. Although some have similarities, they all are unique and distinguishable from one another. For
70 example, one tableau may reflect the world through rigid geometric figures while another may show life in smooth black curves. One consequence of the spread of different artistic styles is the wide variety of art people enjoy today.

75 While some favor one style over another, it is important that these styles coexist, because a variety of techniques and opinions is the ideal environment for the evolution of art.